Container for self-lighting cigarettes



July 2, 1935 A. H. FOX

CONTAINER FOR SELF'LIGHTING CIGARE TTES Filed May 24, 1955 2Sheets-Sheet 1 J l 2, 1935 A. 'H; FOX 2,006,591

I CONTAINER FORSELF LIGHTING CIGARETTES Filed May 24, 1935 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 2, 1935 UNITED STATES CONTAINER FORSELF-LIGHTING CIGARETTES Ansley H. Fox, Pleasantville, J., assignor toInventions HoldingCorporation, a corporation of Delaware Application May24, 1933, Serial No. 672,691

Claims. (Cl. 206-41) This invention relates to containers for socalledself-lighting cigarettes and the like, and has for its principal objectto provide a container of extremely simple construction and capable of 5manufacture at a relatively low cost which shall contain one or morestriking surfaces'so positioned as to frictionally engage ignition bandscarried by the cigarettes when the latter are withdrawn from thecontainer whereby said bands will be ignited, said container beingprovided with means for increasing the effective area of the saidstriking surfaces and-at the same time for preserving the substantiallycylindrical form of the cigarettes against such crushing forces as maybe required to support the frictional contact between the strikingsurfaces .and the said friction bands.

. The invention further resides in certain novel structural detailshereinafter set forth and illustrated in the attached drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the outer shell or casing of thecontainer;

Fig. 2 is a view of the inner receptacle of the container;

Figs. 3 and 4 are views of the blanks from which the outer and innermembers of the con- Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view of the innerreceptacle; Fig. 9 is a detached perspective view of one of thecorrugated inner elements, and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a modification withinthe scope of the invention. With reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of thedrawings, the container in a preferred form comprises an outerrectangular open-ended shell or casing l which is adapted to receive aninner container member or receptacle 2 The inner member 2 comprises twocigarette compartments 3 and 4 each defined by inner and outer walls 5,6 and I, 8, respectively, and by side walls 9, 9 and ID, ID. The walls 5and] are, respectively joined to the walls 6 and 8 at'their lower ends,and :the walls 9. and H) are in the form of free flaps or flangesprojecting transversely and in opposite directions from the side edgesof the inner walls 5 and I. The inner walls 5 and 'l are connected toeach other by means of a V-shaped juncture H which form of the finishedshell.

preferably possesses a natural resiliency tending to separate the saidwalls 5 and I at their upper ends, this for a purpose hereinafter setforth. The outer wall 6 terminates adjacent the top of the inner Wall 5,while the outer wall 8, as illustrated, is extended above the top of theinner wall I and has at its upper end a turned-over flap l2 whichfunctions as hereinafter set forth as the top closure for the container.

To the outer face of each of the inner walls 5 and I and to the innerfaces of the outer walls '6 and 8 are suitably secured, as by adhesive,corrugated liners, 5a, la, 6a. and 8a, see Fig. 9, and'on each of theseliners I provide striking surfaces individually designated by thereference numeral 5 I3, these surfaces lying adjacent the upper edges ofthe outer wall 6 and the inner walls 5 and l, and the striking surfaceI3 on the liner 8a being located in a corresponding position whereby thestriking surfaces of the two liners of each com- 0 partment are locatedopposite each other. This inner receptacle member is adapted forinsertion in the outer shell I afterthe manner illustrated in Fig. 5,the flap 12 being inserted in the open upper end of the shell andthereby, in effect, 25

closing the container.

The construction of the shell I of the container and the inner member 2thereof will be readily understood by reference toFigs; 3 and 4, whichrespectively, show blanks from which these mem- 30 here may be formed.Thus with reference to Fig.3 theblank for the shell I may be of simplerectangular form transversely scoredat l4 if desired to facilitatefolding intothe rectangular Preferably this blank comprises at one edgeprojecting tabs 15, I5 so positioned that when the blank is folded theylie at one end of the narrow sides of the shell and of such character asto permit their being folded 40 inwardly, as shown in Fig. 1, againstthe inner faces of said narrow walls against which they may be securedby suitable adhesive. These tabs, as hereinafter set forth, constitutestops limiting the movement of the inner member 2 within the shell. I

Referring to Fig. 4, it will be noted that those portions of the blankwhich constitute the outer Walls 6 and 8, of the receptacle 2 arenarrower than the portions which constitute the inner walls 5 and 1whereby when the blank is folded and inserted in the shell I the outerwalls lie completely within the opposite side walls 10, permittingtheouter edges of these side walls to bear against the inner faces of theside walls compartments 3 and 4 engage the stops I5.

of the shell I. It will be noted further that the flaps which constitutethe side walls III of the cigarette compartments 3 and 4, particularlyat their upper ends, are slightly less in width than the diameter of thecigarettes which the compartments are adapted to contain whereby thejuncture member II is effective to place the cigarettes, particularly atthe upper edges of the containers, under a slight compression, whichinsures a desirably firm frictional contact between the cigarettes andthe striking surfaces I3. This compression cannot crush the cigarettes,however, by reason of the corrugated inner liners which provide cellsfor the individual cigarettes of the approximate cylindrical form of thecigarette.

The container as described is adapted for reception of cigarettes havingan ignition band I6 at one end, the relative proportions of the conareassembled in the compartments 3 and 4, as illustrated in Fig. 5, theyproject above the upper ends of the compartments. When it is desired towithdraw a cigarette, pressure is applied to the under side of the innerreceptacle, forcing the receptacle in the shell I to the position shownin Fig. 6 in which the flap I2 is released and the upper edges of theside walls 9 and I0 of the This function of the stops in limiting themovement of the inner receptacle 2 is best shown in Fig. 7. Cigarettesmay now readily be drawn from the container, this withdrawal bringingthe ignition band I6 into frictional contact with the igniting surfacesl3. 'The curved walls which carry the striking surfaces insure arelatively extensive contact surface between the said surfaces and theignition bands, and by reason of the pressure exerted by the junctureelement II and the construction previously set forth, the effectivenessof the frictional contact between the ignition band and the strikingsurfaces I3 is assured whereby the said band is ignited. If all theeigarettes are withdrawn from either of the compartments, it will beapparent that the normal relation of the walls of the respectivecompartments is maintained since the side walls 9 and III, as-previouslydescribed, engage the side walls of the shell I and prevent the emptycompartment from collapsing. Thus the resilient member II is permittedto continue .its function to maintain the necessary frictional contactbetween the striking surfaces I3 of the compartment 4 and thecigarettes.

In the aforedescribed embodiment of my invention, the resilient meansfor assuring adequate frictional engagement between the ignition bandsof the cigarettes and the striking surfaces is confined to a positionbetween the cigarette compartments of the inner receptacle.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 10, a similar device is applied to'thetwo outer walls of the compartments, which at their upper edges areprovided with one or more folds II which react with the walls of theouter shell I to resiliently force the outer walls of the compartmentsinwardly upon the cigarettes to thereby compress the cigarettes betweenthe outer and inner walls of the receptacles, atleast at the upper edgesthereof and in the areas embraced by the striking surfaces as previouslyset forth. In Fig. 10, thewalls of the compartments are identified bythe same reference characters used in the-preceding figures of thedrawings. In this instance, the intermediate resilient element in theform of free flaps extending from the op- I I may be retained asillustrated or may be eliminated.

There may be still other modifications without departure from theinvention.

the cigarettes as the latter are withdrawn, re-

silient means for maintaining said frictional engagement, and means forpreserving the normal substantially cylindrical form of the cigarettes.

2. A container for self-lighting cigarettes or the like comprising acigarette compartment having relatively movable side walls, strikingsurtainer parts being such that when the cigarettes v aces on said wallspositioned for frictional en gagement with the cigarettes as the latterare 20 and the like, the combination .with an outer shell,

of an inner receptacle comprising a pair of cigarette compartmentsarranged back to back, striking surfaces adjacent theupper edges of saidcompartments arranged to frictionally engage the cigarettes as thelatter are withdrawn, resilient means interposed between the upper endsof said compartments for placing the cigarettes; under compressionwithin'the areas embraced by said striking, surfaces, and means forpreventing said compression from crushing the cigarettes.

4. In a container for self-lighting cigarettes and the like, thecombination with an outer shell, of an inner receptacle comprising apair of cigarette compartments arranged back to back, striking surfacesadjacent the upper edges of said compartments arranged to frictionallyen, gage the cigarettes as the latter are withdrawn, resilient meansinterposed between the upper ends of said compartments for placing thecigarettes under light compression within the areas embraced by saidstriking surfaces, meansfor limiting compression of the cigarettes bysaid resilient means, and means providing individual substantiallycylindrical cells for the cigarettes preventing crushing of thecigarettes by said limited compression.

5. In a container for self-lighting cigarettes 55 and the like, thecombination with an outer shell, of an inner receptacle having a pair ofcigarette compartments each defined by inner and outer relativelymovable walls and side walls 60 posite sides of the said inner walls,resilient means interposed between the upper edges of said inner wallsand tending to force said walls apart at the top, the outer edges ofsaid side wall flaps contacting the side walls of said outer shell tolimit the movement of said inner walls under the action of saidresilient means, and said side walls being slightly narrower than thediameter of the cigarettes held in said compartments whereby saidcigarettes are placed under light compression between the walls of saidcompartments by said resilient means, corrugated liners for the walls ofsaid compartments affording substantially cylindrical cells for theindividual cigarettes, and striking surfaces on the'exposed faces theupper ends of said compartments, means for of said liners adjacent theupper, edges thereof and adapted for frictional contact with thecigarettes when the latter arewithdrawn from the container.

6. In a container for self-lighting cigarettes and the like, thecombination with'an outer casing, of an inner receptacle, saidreceptacle having a pair of cigarette compartments arranged back toback, each compartment being defined by inner and outer walls and sidewalls in the form of free .flaps projecting transversely from the edgesof said inner walls, the width of said flaps being slightly less thanthe diameter of the cigarettes to be carried in said compartments, andthe joint thickness of said compartments being less than thecorresponding interior dimension of the outer shell, striking surfaceson the walls of said and the like, the combination with an outer shellor casing, of an inner receptacle consisting of an integral elongatedblank folded transversely to produce a pair of cigarette compartmentsconnected at their upper ends by an interposed section of V-formation,transverse extensions on said blank constituting the side walls of saidcompartments, corrugated liners secured to the front and rear walls ofsaid compartments, and striking surfaces on the inner faces of saidliners adjacent the upper ends thereof, substantially as described.

8. In a container for self-lighting cigarettes and the like, thecombination with an outer shell or casing, of an inner receptacleadapted for insertion in said casingand consisting of an integralelongated blank folded transversely to produce a plurality of cigarettecompartments, the adjoining compartments being connected at their upperedges by means of a transverse fold of said blank, and each of the outerwalls of said compartments also being provided with a folded portionadjacent the upper ends of the compartments, said folds cooperating withthe outer shell or casing to place the cigarettes under compression atthe upper ends of said compartments, means for preventing saidcompression from crushing the cigarettes, and striking surfacesadjoining the said upper ends of said compartments and arranged forfrictional engagement with the cigarettes as the latter are withdrawnfrom the container.

9. In a container for self-lighting cigarettes and the like, thecombination with an outer shell or casing, of an inner receptacleadapted for insertion in said casing and comprising an integralelongated blank folded transversely to produce a plurality of cigarettecompartments, the adj oining compartments being connected at their upperedges by means of a transverse fold of said blank,

preventing crushing of the cigarettes by said compression, strikingsurfaces adjacent the said upper ends of said compartments arranged forfrictional engagement with the cigarettes as the latter are withdrawnfrom the container, said inner receptacle being less in length than theouter shell or casing and being adapted to be slid towards one end ofthe latter to expose the cigarettes for retraction, and stop elementsadapted to-engage the inner receptacle to limit the said slidingmovement of the receptacle in the casing.

10. In a container for self-lighting cigarettes and the like, thecombination with an outer shell or casing, of an inner receptaclecomprising a pair of cigarette compartments each having outer and innerwalls, resilient means interposed between the upper edges of the innerwalls to separate the latter at their upper edges, means providingcylindrical cells for said. cigarettes within the compartments, meansfor maintaining said cigarettes under compression between the walls ofsaid compartments, and striking surfaces adjacent the upper edges ofsaid walls and in position to frictionally engage the cigarettes as theyare withdrawn from the cells. 11. In a container for self-lightingcigarettes and the like, the combination with an outer shell or casing,of an inner partitioned receptacle providing a plurality of cigarettecompartments. substantially cylindrical cells in said compartments forthe individual cigarettes, resilient means for compressing thecigarettes between the walls of said compartments, strikingsurfaces onthe walls of said compartments positioned to frictionally engage thecigarettes when the latter are withdrawn from the container, and meansfor preventing collapse of said compartments when all of the containedcigarettes are withdrawn therefrom.

12. In a container for self-lighting cigarettes and the like, an outershell in combination with a sliding receptacle adapted to hold two rowsof cigarettes, said receptacle having a central double-walled partitionseparating said rows and provided at the top with resilient means forpushing said walls away from each other and outwardly whereby thecigarettes of the respective rows are resiliently confined between thesaid partitioned Walls and the opposed walls of the outer shell, andmeans for preventing crushing of the cigarettes by reason of saidconfinement.

13. In a container for self-lighting cigarettes and the like, an outershell in combination with a sliding receptacle adapted to hold two rowsof cigarettes, said receptacle having a central double-walled partitionintermediate the said rows of cigarettes and a pair of oppositelyarranged outer walls forming the respective compartments for said rows,V-shaped spring sections integral with said walls and positionedrespectively intermediate the upper edges of the walls of said partitionand at the upper edge and on the outer sides of said outer walls,striking surfaces adjacent the h upper end of each of said walls, and onthose faces thereof constituting the inner surfaces of saidcompartments, said spring sections reacting with the walls of said.partition and with the walls of said outer shell to force the innersurfaces of said compartments into firm resilient contact with thecigarettes of the respective rows, and means for preventing crushing ofsaid cigarettes under action of said spring sections.

14. In a container for self-lighting cigarettes and the like, an outershell in combination with a sliding receptacle adapted to hold two rowsof cigarettes, said receptacle having a central partition separatingsaid rows and free end portions forming the outer walls of thereceptacle and of the cigarette compartments, the said outer wallshaving at their upper edges integral folds adapted to react with theouter shell to resiliently force said outer walls inwardly to therebyconfine the cigarettes in said compartments under firm but resilientpressure, and means for preventing said pressure from crushing thecigarettes.

15. In a container for self-lighting cigarettes and the like, an outershell in combination with a sliding receptacle adapted to hold two rowsforce said outer walls inwardly to thereby confine the cigarettes insaid compartments under firm but resilient pressure, striking surfaceson the inner surfaces of the walls of said compartments and adjacent theupper edges thereof, and means in said compartments for preventingcrushing of said cigarettes by said pressure.

ANSIIJEY H. FOX.

